Friction-clutch.



. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS LINT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID P. CLARK, OFDAYTON, OHIO.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos LINT, a citizen of the United States, residingat Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to clutches and particularly to friction clutches,particularly adapted to use in light running machinery, but capable ofbeing constructed of proportions suitable for heavy work.

The object of the invention is to greatly simplify the construction aswell as the means and mode of 0 eration of such devices, whereby they w'1 not only be chea ened in construction, but will be more eflicient inoperation, easily operated,and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further primary object is to provide a clutch of compact construction,adapted to be used on small machinery where but limited room isavailable, and in which the engagement of the parts will be in a planecommon with the point of application of the power, and further oneadapted to be engaged at any point of rotation with a minimum movementof the parts.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as willappear from the specification, the invention consists of the means,mechanism, construction, and mode of operation, hereinafter describedand set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of the assembled device.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled clutch. Fig. 3is a detail transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is an end view, 0 positethat of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectiona detail view, grossly exaggerated,showing the rods in both positions.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings 1 is the shaft, 2 is a pulley of ordinaryconstruction, of which 3 is the hub having a smooth straight boreconcentric with the rim thereof and also with the shaft 1. It is obviousthat in place of the pulley 2 a gear wheel or pinion may be substituted.1

A sleeve 4 is secured on the shaft 1, which sleeve is provided with aperipheral flange 5.

The sleeve 4 is secured to the shaft 1 in any' suitable manner, butpreferably by means of set screws 6. The pulley 2 is journaled on thesleeve 4, being secured in place by the integral flange 5 on one sideand by a removable collar 7 on the opposite side. The collar 7 issecured by a set screw 8 engaging the sleeve 4, and preferably althoughnot necessarily extending through said sleeve into e11- gagement withthe shaft 1 as indicated.

Located in the sleeve 4 are one or more longitudinal bores 9 whichextend through the flange 5 and longitudinally through the sleeve 4,intersecting the periphery thereof, thus forming throughout the sleeve aseries of grooves. Located in each of the longitudinal bores 9 is anoscillating gripping rod 10. The rods 10 are somewhat eccentric in crosssection, the said rods being fitted to and oscillating within the bores9, the outer face of the respective rods being flattened, or formed witha curvature conforming to that of the periphery of the sleeve 4, wherebywhen said rods are in their normal, or disengaged position, theperiphery of the sleeve 4 will present a continuous unbroken surface,upon which the pulley or gear will freely rotate.

The ortion of the rods 10 projecting beyond tie flange 5 is bent atsubstantially right angles to the main portion of the rod, forming arock arm 11 for each of said rods. The rock arm 11 terminates in a head12, through which extends an adjustable stud 13 projecting radially withrelation to the axis of the structure. A longitudinally moving cone 14is mounted on the shaft 1, and when moved toward the sleeve 4 it isadapted to engage the respective studs 13 and force the rock arms 11outward to oscillate the body of the rods 10 within the bores 9 of thesleeve 4, whereby said rods will be caused to project slightly beyondthe periphery of the sleeve 4 and frictionally engage the smoothinterior bore ofthe hub 3 of the pulley or ear. g On account of theclose running fit of the hub 3 on the sleeve only a very slight movementof the rods 10 is required to bind the hub upon the sleeve in suchmanner that the arts will rotate in unison. Located in the ange 5 is aplurality of oil holes 15, one for each rod 10. The respective oil holes15 intersect a groove 16 in the face of the rod 10, which tends todistribute the lubricant within the smooth bore ofthe hub. 3. By thisconstruction, when the pulley or gear is being used as the drivingmember, and the shaft 1 as the driven member, the bearing of the hub 3may be lubricated without stopping the driver.

In Fig. 5 the clearance of the hub and sleeve has been grosslyexaggerated in order to better show the movement of the rods 10 intoengaging position. It is to be understood that the hub 3 is journaled onthe sleeve in the ordinary manner, having a running fit with the usualamount of clearance.

It will be seen that in the above described construction, the frictionalengagement of the lparts is in a direct plane with the pull of t edriver, and that the engagement is in extent substantially all the wayfrom one face to the other. This renders the clutch very compact, andpermits its use in very limited space. The structure is not depend enton one point of engagement with the hub or any number of definite pointsbut may be engaged with the hub at any point of the retation. The clutchfeatures are further capable of being fitted to any existing pulley orgear. It is further to be understood that either one or more rods 10 maybe used, ac cording to the work to be performed.

In order that the rods 8 may freely rotate in the bores 9 recesses 17are formed in the interior periphery of the loose collar, 7, whichrecesses register with and complete the bores 9, as fully indicated inFig. 4. Pins 18 in the ends of the rods 10 limit the end movementthereof.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provideda clutch mechanism comprising a driven member, which, in the presentinstance, consists of a shaft and a sleeve rigidly mounted thereon, anda driving member, which, in the present instance, consists of a pulley;and that the bearing surface of one of these members is provided with alongitudinal groove while the other of said members has a continuousbearing surface; that I have journaled in said longitudinal groove a rodof greater diameter than the depth of said groove; and that I have cutaway that portion of the rod which extends beyond said bearing surface,thus reducing the diameter of the rod in one direction to an amountequal to or less than the depth of the groove. The shortest diameter ofthe rod is preferably equal to the depth of the groove and the rodserves as a portion of the bearing surface and provides a practicallycontinuous bearing surface for this member. WVith the rod in thisposition it will be apparent that the sleeve may rotate in the pulleywithout in any wise affecting the same, but, when the sliding cone onthe shaft has been actuated to rotate the rod about its longitudinalaxis, a portion of the rod will be projected beyond the bearing surfaceof the member in which it is journaled and caused to frietionally engagethe bearing surface of the other member, thereby securely locking thetwo members together and causing the same to rotate in unison.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusproduced a clutch of the type described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction, and arrangement of parts, with out departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, I claim,

1. A clutch mechanism com rising a continuously rotating shaft, a s eeverigidly mounted on said shaft and having a longitudinal groove in itsouter surface, a hub provided with a continuous bearing surface andjournaled on said sleeve, a rod rotatably mounted in said longitudinalgroove, having its diameter in one direction equal to or less than thedepth of said groove and having its diameter in another directiongreater than the depth of said groove, whereby the rotation of said rodwill cause a portion thereof to project beyond said groove andfrictionally engage the bearing surface of said hub, and meansindependent of the means for actuating said hub for rotating said rod.

2. A clutch mechanism comprising a con tinuously rotating shaft, asleeve rigidly mounted on said shaft and having a longitudinal groove inits outer surface, a hub provided with a continuous bearing surface andjournaled on said sleeve, a rod rotatably mounted in said longitudinalgroove, having its diameter in one direction equal to or less than thedepth of said groove and having its diameter in another directiongreater than the depth of said groove, whereby the rotation of said rodit ill cause a portion thereof to project beyond said groove andfrictionally engage the bearing surface of said hub, a curved crank armsecured to one end of said rod, and a cone slidably mounted on saidshaft and adapted to actuate said crank arm.

3. A clutch mechanism comprising a continuously rotating shaft, a sleeverigidly mounted on said shaft and having a longitudinal groove in itsouter surface, a hub provided with a continuous bearing surface andjournaled on said sleeve, a rod rotatably mounted in said longitudinalgroove, having its diameter in one direction equal to or less than thedepth of said groove and having its diameter in another directiongreater than the depth of said groove, whereby the rotation of said rodwill cause a portion thereof to project beyond said groove andfrictionally engage the bearing surface of said hub, a curved crank armsecured to one end of said rod, an adjustable stop carried by the outerend of said crank arm, and a cone slidably mounted on said shaft andadapted to engage said stop to actuate said crank arm.

4. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a sleeve rigidly securedthereto and having a longitudinal groove therein, a collar rigidlysecured to said sleeve at one end thereof and having an aperture thereinextending longitudinally of said shaft and in alinement with saidgroove, a rod journaled in said aperture and in said groove, thatportion of said rod lying in said groove having its outer portion cutaway flush with the surface of said sleeve, a pulley journaled on saidsleeve and having a continuous bearing surface, a crank arm connected toone end of said rod, and a member slidably mounted on said shaft andadapted to actuate said crank arm to rotate said rod and cause a portionthereof to be brought into frictional engagement with the bearingsurface of said pulley.

5. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a'sleeve rigidly securedthereto and having a longitudinal groove therein, a collar rigidlysecured to said sleeve at one end thereof and having an aperture thereinextending longitudinally of said shaft and in alinement w ith saidgroove, a rod journaled in said aperture and in said groove, thatportion of said rod lying in said groove having its outer portion cutaway flush with the surface of said sleeve, said rod having a groovetherein extending longitudinally of said sleeve, a radial recess in saidcollar adapted to register at its inner end with the groove in said rod,means for rotating said rod about its longitudinal axis, and a pulleymounted on said sleeve and having a continuous bearing surface, wherebythe rotation of said rod will cause a portion thereof to frictionallyengage the bearing surface of said pulley.

6. A clutch mechanism comprising a continuously rotating driving member,a driven member, one of said members being j ournaled upon the other,one of said members having a longitudinal groove in its bearing surfaceand the other of said members having a continuous bearing surface, a rodrotatably mounted in said groove, having its diameter in one directionequal to or less than the depth of said groove and having its diameterin another direction greater than the depth of said groove, whereby therotation of said rod about its longitudinal axis will cause a portionthereof to project beyond said groove and frictionally engage thebearing surface of the other member, a crank arm secured to one end ofsaid rod, and a device slidably mounted on one of said members andadapted to actuate said crank arm.

7. A clutch mechanism comprising a continuously rotating driving member,a driven member, one of said members being journaled upon the other, oneof said members having a longitudinal groove in its bearing surface andthe other of said members having a continuous bearing surface, a rodrotatably mounted in said groove, having its diameter in one directionequal to or less than the depth of said groove and having its diameterin another direction greater than the depth of said groove, whereby therotation of said rod about its longitudinal axis will cause a portionthereof to project beyond said groove and frictionally engage thebearing surface of the other member, a crank arm, an adjustable stopcarried by said crank arm, and a member slidably mounted on said shaftand adapted to engage said stop to actuate said crank arm.

8. A clutch mechanism comprising a shaft, a sleeve rigidly securedthereto and having a longitudinal groove therein, a collar rigidlysecured to said sleeve at one end thereof and having an aperture thereinextending longitudinally of said shaft and in alinement with saidgroove, a rod j ournaled in said aperture and in said groove, thatportion of said rod lying in said groove having its outer portion cutaway flush with the surface of said sleeve, a hub j ournaled on saidsleeve and having a continuous bearing surface, means carried by saidrod for moving the same about its longitudinal axis, and a memberslidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to actuate said means torotate said rod and cause a portion thereof to be brought intofrictional engagement with the bearing surface of said pulley.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25 day of JanuaryA. D. 1908.

AMOS LINT.

Witnesses:

HARRY F. NOLAN, F. L. WALKER.

